Local Students engage in hands-on equine learning at Unbridled Sanctuary

Unbridled Sanctuary Welcomes BOCES Agricultural Science Students; Sanctuary Expands Role as Regional Experiential Learning Campus 

Westerlo, NY (November 10, 2025) -- Unbridled Sanctuary, a 501(c)(3) lifelong equine sanctuary and ethics-based education center, welcomed students and faculty from the BOCES Agricultural Science Program based at the Marilyn A. Noonan School at Durham for an immersive hands-on learning experience focused on equine care, agricultural stewardship, and applied problem-solving. 

Students participated in the morning care routine for the sanctuary’s approximately 65  resident equines, representing more than 1,000 cumulative years of sentient life  experience. Many of the horses at Unbridled are seniors, broodmares, or survivors of  neglect, abandonment, or the slaughter pipeline. 

Through direct interaction and guided discussion, students were introduced to equine  nutrition, herd health, social and emotional needs, and the daily operational responsibilities  of providing lifelong sanctuary. 

“Our sanctuary is a living classroom,” said Susan Kayne, Founder & CEO of Unbridled  Sanctuary. “These young people are tomorrow’s guardians and advocates. When they learn  in the presence of horses who have lived through both hardship and healing, they gain  knowledge that goes beyond curriculum — they gain compassion, discernment, and a deeper  understanding of ethical stewardship.” 

Applied Learning in Real Agricultural Conditions 

During the visit, students and faculty engaged in a critical-thinking exercise focused on feed  sourcing and preparation. Feeding a large herd requires significant labor, skilled  management, and consistent quality control. Instructor Heidi Woolever and her Teaching  Assistant Zoe Mullen led students in exploring how nutrition quality can be protected or  improved while reducing the inefficiencies of individualized feed bagging and rising supply  costs. 

This real-world problem is now being considered as an ongoing student-led applied  learning project, aligning agricultural science education with direct and measurable  community impact.

“We were deeply impressed by how Heidi and Zoeguided the students to analyze both the  care standard and the economic realities,” said Kayne. “This is agricultural science at its best  — grounded, problem-solving, humane, and future-oriented.” 

A Campus for Hands-On Learning and Public Policy Development 

This education day follows the sanctuary’s recent New York State Law Enforcement  Equine Cruelty & Neglect Training Workshop, which drew law enforcement  professionals from across the state. Unbridled serves as a regional venue and resource for: 

• Agricultural & veterinary experiential learning 

• Sanctuary & special-needs equine management 

• Public policy & humane law education 

• Professional and law enforcement training 

• Leadership, social-emotional, and ethical education for youth 

“Our gates are open,” Kayne emphasized. “For classrooms, colleges, training agencies, civic  groups, and professional organizations. If the goal is to elevate humane understanding and  responsible care, Unbridled is here as a partner.” 

Educational and community organizations interested in scheduling a visit or  collaborative project are invited to contact the sanctuary. 

About Unbridled Sanctuary 

Unbridled Sanctuary, founded in 2004, is a nonprofit equine sanctuary located in Westerlo,  New York, committed to the rescue, lifelong care, and advocacy of horses, donkeys, and  mules. Through hands-on education, public outreach, and humane policy leadership, Unbridled works to advance compassionate and ethical standards for equine care.